Windows to the Sea

The salt air hits you the moment you walk through the doors of Windows to the Sea in Seaton, just outside Aberdeen. It's a gallery that doesn't announce itself loudly - no grand foyer or pretentious signage - but what you find inside makes the trip worthwhile.

The space celebrates the relationship between land and ocean, with work that shifts depending on what's on. We visited during an exhibition of coastal photography and seascape paintings, the kind that actually capture the grey-green drama of the Scottish coast rather than sanitising it. The gallery itself has that slightly raw, unpretentious feel you get in many northeastern art spaces - all whitewashed walls and honest lighting.

It's genuinely worth an hour or so if you're stopping in Seaton anyway. Families with older kids will get something from it; younger ones might lose interest quickly unless there's something particularly interactive on. The staff know their stuff and aren't the sort to hover irritatingly.

If you're staying at Seaview Caravan Park - just under three miles away - this makes an easy afternoon slot before heading back for dinner. Check ahead for what's on and opening times, as programming varies. Free entry when we were there, though donations welcome. It's the sort of place that's not going to transform your holiday, but it's a proper use of an hour if the weather turns drizzly and you want something inland.